1986: RockTron founder members successfully test 4t/h prototype flotation cell for separating carbon from ash in their plant in Belgium.

1989: RockTron founder members design and construct a 70t/h commercial carbon from ash plant in Germany. RAG managing director, Dr Wolfgang Ritchell, confirms that this plant operated successfully, continuously and profitably until 1997 when it was decommissioned after exhausting the feed stock.

1992: Successful completion of pilot plant trials for fly ash beneficiation process at Coal Research Establishment (CRE), UK using run-of-station and stockpile material from Aberthaw Power Station in South Wales.

March 1994: Investigation of carbon product generated from the process demonstrates that it can be successfully reburnt as a fuel in the power station. Report 'Drop Tube Furnace Studies on the Burn-out of Recovered Carbon' prepared by CRE.

April 1994: Independent study of the properties of άlpha™ cement constituent demonstrates its advantages for high performance concrete. Report 'Evaluation of the Properties of Recovered Fly Ash and Assessment of their Potential to Produce Structural Concrete' prepared by Professor J G Cabrera of the Civil Engineering Materials Unit, University of Leeds, UK.

December 1996: GB patent for method to coat fly ash with pigments granted to RockTron co-founder.

December 1997: European and international (PCT) patents for method to coat fly ash with pigments granted to RockTron co-founder.

May 1997: Presentation of paper at MIRO TRAWMAR Waste Minimisation and Recycling conference entitled 'The MPM PFA Process'.

1999: Successful completion of pilot trials for fly ash beneficiation process at Fiddler's Ferry using run-of-station and lagoon material from Fiddler's Ferry Power Station in Cheshire.

March 2000: Independent study of carbon from the process demonstrates potential for use in gas and water treatment. Results reported in final ECSC report 'Utilisation of Solid Residues Arising from Coal'.

2000: Foundation of RockTron Limited.

2001: Foundation of RockTron Research Limited and RockTron (Widnes) Limited.

2002: Foundation of RockTron (Gale Common) Limited.

January 2004: Presentation by RockTron at the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Industry and Technology Forum entitled 'Total Beneficiation of Fly Ash - from Waste Dump to Profiting the Environment'.

May 2004: Presentation of paper entitled 'The Use of Beneficiated Fly Ash as a Component of Cement in Concrete' by P Owens and J B Newman at 8th CANMET/ACI International Conference on Fly Ash, Silica Fume, Slag and Natural Pozzolans in Concrete. This work included an evaluation of RockTron's άlpha™ cement constituent and advocates that cement should be specifically formulated to optimise the performance of ash derived products.

June 2004: RockTron attends DTI Cleaner Fossil Fuels Programme workshop 'Ash Utilisation from Coal Based Power Plants'.

January 2005: RockTron contributes to IEA Clean Coal Centre report 'Cement and Concrete - Benefits and Barriers in Coal Ash Utilisation (see CCC/94)' by Irene M Smith.

May 2006: RockTron presents paper at AshTech 2006 International Coal Ash Technology Conference entitled 'Implementation of the RockTron Fly Ash Beneficiation Process' - see technical literature for further information.

March 2007: Scottish & Southern Energy formally announce their funding of RockTron to build a demonstration plant at Gale Common and a full-scale plant at Fiddler’s Ferry in 2008.

May 2008: First processed samples produced by the demonstration plant at Gale Common.

November 2009: RockTron awarded Nicklin Medal at the IChemE Awards for their outstanding contribution to sustainability in chemical engineering.

January 2010: RockTron recieved the Fossil Fuels Award at the 2009 Rushlight Awared in recognition of their contribution to the reduction of the environmental impact of fossil fuel usage.